A quick question about paints and there effects on foam or on woodland scenics products, I building their N scale layout an enhanced version which will require some painting of risers and foam board.
My layout is on both the pink foam board and also on wood scenics foam pieces. I’m building a 12*6 larger more elaborate version of their N scale scenic ridge.
I have purchased some latex paint for massive areas, I have some water base paint for the edges and outline and other purposes.
Can I use an oil base paint on my light weight hydrocal mountains? Can this oil base paint also be used on the foam or will it harm the foam?
I wanted to use the oil base paint on the mountains since my previous layout mountains came out terrific and I want to try and create a similar effect.
For best results you should stick with one type of paint. I’d choose the latex because of the lack of toxicity when drying. Save the oil base paint to redo your outside furniture.
I agree with reklein. I avoid oil-based paints as much as possible because of the odor, potential toxicity and the difficulty cleaning up after you’re finished using it. I can’t think of any good reason to use oil based paint on a model train layout, especially in painting scenery. Most scenery techniques, of which I’m aware, use water-based methods. Oil-based/solvent-based paint will dissolve extruded foam insulation used in model railroad scenery. When you color mountain rock faces made of plaster you should use thinned water-based paint washes or India ink washes to produce a realistic appearance.